Benoît Fournier (1981, France), lives and works in Rio de Janeiro since 2006. He studied at the Parque Lage School of Visual Arts (EAV Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro).
Franco-Brazilian artist Benoît Fournier explores our relationship with the environment through an ecological and social perspective, challenging the dualism between nature and culture. He conceives the Earth as both a geological and discursive formation, highlighting the complexities of natural resources, such as soil. Inspired by the non-linear cycles of nature, he combines natural elements with urban waste, revealing the fracture between culture and the rhythms of the Earth, while expressing a desire for reintegration. His works explore the invisible connections between life forms and the forces that bind them.
Artistic Residencies
2024 | Instituto Inclusartiz, curated by Gabriela Davies, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2022 | Kaaysá, Art & Nature, curated by Agnaldo Farias, Boiçucanga, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Solo shows
2024 | Espaçe Krajcberg – Contemporary Art and Nature Cultural Center, [Olhar o invisível], curated by Sylvie Depondt, Paris, France.
2023 | Art Now Projects Gallery, [Osmose], curated by Agnaldo Farias, Geneva, Switzerland.
2021 | Z42 Art Gallery, [Everything in the world is spirit], curated by Ulisses Carrilho & Bruna Costa, breath Ernesto Neto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2019 | Espace L Gallery, [Nipei Yuxiî], Geneva, Switzerland.
2018 | Edouard de la Marque Gallery, [Nipei Yuxiî], Paris, France.
2017 | Blue Sky Gallery, [Babylon], Portland, USA.
2017 | Festival Promenades photographiques, [Percurso], Vendôme, France.
2015 | Cultural Center CEDAE, [Water memories], Rio de Janeiro, curated by Diogenes Moura, Brazil.
2014 | Alliance Française Gallery, Prix Photo Web, [Land of water], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Group Shows
2024 | L’antichambre Gallery, [Découvertes], Chambéry, France.
2024 | Z42 Art Gallery, [Terra comum], Curated by Lucas Alburquerque, Rio de Janeiro.
2024 | Instituto Inclusartiz, [Sambaqui], curated by Victor Gorgulho & Gabriela Davies, Rio de Janeiro.
2023 | Matias Brotas Gallery, [Séries MAC, Clube do Colecionador], Vitória.
2023 | Refresco, [O feitiço da Língua], curator Daniela Avelar, Rio de Janeiro.
2023 | Le Salon H – Vila Ladeira, [Dar Bandeira], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2023 | Este Arte, Reginart Collection, Punta del Este, Uruguay.
2022 | Artnow Project Gallery, [60 old street], Geneva, Switzerland.
2022 | Federal Justice Cultural Center and Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center, [Parada 7 Arte em Resistência], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2022 | Espaço 8, [Tomorrow will be a new day], São Paulo, Brazil.
2022 | Photo Basel, L’Antichambre Gallery, Basel, Switzerland.
2020 | Art Geneve, Simon Studer Gallery & Rosa Turetski Gallery, Geneve, Switzerland.
2019 | Biennale d’Issy, [Contemporary Portraits, selfie of the soul?], Paris, France.
2017 | A Gentil Carioca Gallery, [Abre Alas 13 | Resurgence], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2017 | Aliança Francesa Gallery, [Identity], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2017 | National Historical Museum, [Quando o mar virou Rio | Rio Life], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2017 | Festival International de fotografia In Cadaqués, [Percurso], Cadaqués, Spain.
2017 | A Mesa, [Experience 17], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2017 | Aniwa Gathering, [Seres da Floresta], Ibiza, Spain.
2016 | MAR Museum, [Body discourses | the vertigo of Rio], curated by Paulo Herkenhoff and co-curator Milton Guran, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2016 | Casa França-Brasil, [Lá Fora |Resurgence, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2016 | Art Residence, [Hanging Garden | Resurgence], Babylon Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2016 | Red Bull Station, [Identity], São Paulo, Brazil.
2015 | Centro Cultural Justiça Federal [Ser Carioca de Luz], Water Memories, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2014 | Book [Calçadão do Leme ao Leblon], published by Língua Geral, Brazil.
2014 | Natural History Museum, Jardin des plantes, Paris, France.
2014 | The Center for Fine Art Photography [Black and white 2014 exhibition], Colorado, USA.
2014 | Museum del Fiume, [Water Memories], Biodiversity Festival, Nazzano, Italy.
2013 | Festival Foto in Pauta, [Street Photography], Tiradentes, Brazil.
2012 | Festival de la luz, [Exercícios da Paixão], Espaço 10 Arte, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
Awards
2016 | Prix ANI Portfolio, Promenades photographiques de Vendôme, France.
2015 | Honorable mention, Portfolio review, FotoRio, Rio de Janeiro.
2014 | Contest photo Natural History Museum – ‘prix albums’, Paris.
2014 | 5th place, ‘Water 2014’, photo contest, Italy.
2014 | Honorable mention, Life Framer International photography award, London, UK.
2013 | 1st place, Prix Photo Web prize, sponsored by Aliança Francesa, 2013.
Art Collections
Museum MAR, Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Center of Fine Art Photography, Colorado, USA.
Joaquim Paiva, Private Collection, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Geoffrey C. Koslov, Private Collection, Houston, USA.
National History Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Books
2015 | [Water memories], published by Andrea Jakobsson, Brazil.
2014 | [The city by Bandeira], published by Batel, Brazi